Attahiru: General Irabor orders probe of army chief’s plane crash
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, has commissioned the immediate investigation of the plane crash that led to the death of late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru and ten other personnel of the Nigeria military.
“General Lucky Irabor has…directed that an Accident Investigation Board be constituted to unravel the immediate and remote cause(s) of the unfortunate accident,” a statement signed by Onyema Nwachukwu, a Brigadier General and Defence Spokesman said.
Last night, Nigerian received spine chilling news that the COAS Attahiru died in a crash while travelling from Abuja to Maiduguri.
Witnesses said the plane caught fire mid-air as it was nosing towards the runway of Kaduna International airport.
General Attahiru who became Chief of Army staff in February this year, died alongside six generals and four crew members.
Among those that painfully breathed their last in the crash are:
Among those that painfully breathed their last in the crash are:
Brigadier Gen MI Abdulkadir, the principal general staff officer to the COAS;
Brig Gen Olayinka, Chief of Staff to COAS
Brig Gen Kuliya, who was the the directorate of military intelligence. Maj LA Hayat, Maj Hamza, Sergeant Umar.
The flight crew that also died in the crash are:
Flt Lt To Asaniyi.
Flt Lt Aa Olufade.
Sgt Adesina.
Acm Oyedepo.
The defence headquarters said it received the news “with a heavy heart”.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) regrets to announce that this evening at about 1800 Hours, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru in the company of his entourage, who were on an official trip from Abuja to Kaduna, were involved in an air mishap.
“The unfortunate incident occurred after landing at the Kaduna International Airport due to inclement weather.
“The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Lucky Irabor has therefore directed that an Accident Investigation Board be constituted to unravel the immediate and remote cause(s) of the unfortunate accident.
As we pray for the repose of the souls of our gallant and committed Chief of Army Staff and other personnel on board with him, the AFN solicits the support and understanding of all Nigerians in the face of this tragic incident. We wish to state that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains resolute in combatting the security challenges bedevilling our nation. The sacrifices of our dearly departed heroes will not be in vain.
Meanwhile, the CDS urges all military personnel and their families to take heart and be condoled on this tragic loss. The CDS also reassures all Nigerians of the commitment and loyalty of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the Constitution and Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as it continues to carry out its responsibilities.
